A Choice

"Blade..." Byakuya Kuchiki stared blankly at Shadow.

"I told you to believe in your heart, believe in your blade. But do you know why the heart comes before the blade?" Shadow asked gravely.

"I... don't know." Byakuya Kuchiki shook his head.

"Because the heart is the foundation of the blade. If the heart is strong, the blade will be invincible. Likewise, however weak the heart is, the blade can be broken with ease!"

Shadow said coldly, "True strength begins with possessing the heart of the strong. Without a strong heart that matches one's power, in the end, one is merely a slave to power, controlled by it!"

"Byakuya Kuchiki!" Shadow said in a deep voice. "Remember this: whether a person is strong does not depend on how much power he possesses, nor on how great his influence is. It depends on whether he has seen through his own heart, understood his own heart, and acted according to it in ways he will never regret!"

"Those who possess courage that never retreats and a spirit that cannot be defeated through a hundred battles will never fall in battle. Even if they are weak now, one day they will become truly strong! Byakuya Kuchiki, do you understand?"

"Yes, Teacher!"

"I told you not to call me Teacher!"

Shadow's low shout carried an uncontrollable chill—a truly murderous chill. Clearly, Shadow was genuinely angry this time.

Byakuya Kuchiki looked at Shadow. Though he was afraid, he stubbornly clenched his teeth and refused to yield even a single step.

"Why? Why have you never let me call you Teacher? Did I do something wrong?"

"Why?" Shadow sneered. "Because you are not qualified to call me that!"

"Then what does it take to be qualified?"

"Oh? You do not even know what you need to do?" Shadow gave a cold laugh. "Then come ask me again when you figure it out!"

After leaving the Kuchiki family estate, on the way back to the Shihōin family estate, Yoruichi Shihōin lay on Shadow's back, her arms around his neck and her chin resting atop his head.

"Why did you suddenly get angry today? I have never seen you like that before!"

"Mm." Shadow nodded slightly. "How should I put it? I guess I was a little disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked in confusion. "With little Byakuya?"

"That's right." Shadow said, "The name Kuchiki is his glory, but it is also his burden. I said all that today because I wanted him to see that clearly. But unfortunately, it never even occurred to him. He still takes Kuchiki far too seriously."

"Is that so?"

"Do not let his current impatient and impulsive temperament fool you. Once he bears the responsibility of the Kuchiki family and its honor in the future, who knows what he will become?"

"How do you know that, Shadow?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked curiously.

"I can imagine it." Shadow replied, "The Kuchiki family is, after all, the foremost of the Four Great Noble Families and the model for all nobles. Everything must put the interests of the nobility first. How could someone like that possibly see himself clearly? And even if he did, as a noble, he probably would not admit it."

"I hope it will not be like that."

Yoruichi Shihōin simply could not imagine the current Byakuya Kuchiki becoming as cold and indifferent as Ginrei Kuchiki.

"Hey, Lady Yoruichi, being too naive is not a good thing."

"I know. I have always known."

"Still, I hope Lady Yoruichi can keep smiling like this forever." As Shadow spoke, he suddenly laughed. "Keep smiling like this forever. I will carry all the hardships and pain for you!"

"You idiot." Yoruichi Shihōin murmured softly. "Hey, Shadow, then I will leave everything to you."

"Mm." Shadow nodded.

Suddenly seeming to remember something, Yoruichi Shihōin tapped Shadow's head with her chin and asked, "Shadow, what did you mean by little Byakuya being qualified to call you that?"

"Just one choice."

"Ah?" Yoruichi Shihōin froze at that cryptic answer.

"Actually, all I want is for him to make a choice in his heart."

"A choice of the heart?" Yoruichi Shihōin said in confusion. "I do not quite understand."

"It is normal not to understand. Until the time comes to make that choice, no one will understand."

"Oh." Yoruichi Shihōin still looked as though she only half understood.

"How should I explain it?" Shadow thought for a moment, seemingly organizing his words, before finally speaking after a long while. "People, no matter who they are, will face difficult choices at certain times. The kind where neither option can be abandoned, yet one must still be chosen. I mean choices where there can be no compromise."

"Is that so?"

"Of course. Once you make a choice, you cannot regret it, whether it was right or wrong."

"What about you? Have you ever faced such a choice?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked, turning her head.

"Mm." Shadow slowly nodded. "I told you, everyone will face one. The only difference is sooner or later."

"Then did you choose right, Shadow? Or wrong?"

"Wrong."

"Eh?!"

Seeing Yoruichi Shihōin's stunned expression, Shadow gave a bitter smile. "I chose wrong. Back then, I only pursued appearances and completely overlooked what truly mattered within. In the end, I regretted it for the rest of my life."

"Is that so?" Yoruichi Shihōin smiled. "Shadow, if one day I face such a difficult choice too, then no matter whether I am right or wrong, you will follow me, will you not?"

"Of course." A smile rose at the corner of Shadow's lips as well. "Lady Yoruichi's choice is my choice. But Lady Yoruichi, why did you suddenly ask such a question?"

"Was that a very stupid question?" Yoruichi Shihōin's golden eyes narrowed mischievously.

"That... who knows?" Shadow shook his head.

"Tch." Yoruichi Shihōin pouted.

Night had quietly fallen. The inky black sky was strewn with countless dazzling stars...

Yoruichi Shihōin looked up at the sky and murmured, "What a beautiful night sky!"

"Yeah." Shadow merely answered faintly.

"..." Yoruichi Shihōin was speechless.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept past, and the temperature seemed to drop sharply in an instant.

Shadow adjusted Yoruichi Shihōin on his back and said, "We should hurry back, Lady Yoruichi!"

"Mm!"

The night was dark, the starry sky still brilliant, and moonlight shone like a silver disk upon every corner of the earth, stretching the shadows of Shadow and Yoruichi Shihōin as they gradually walked away into a long, long line, tightly linking them together as though they were inseparable...